Denny Larson, founder of Global Community Monitor and Bucket Brigade, is coming to Prince George September 18-19 to help the community organize itself to be able to take odour samples.
Working with Peoples Action Coalition for Healthy Air (PACHA) and the Miller Addition Citizens Coalition (MACC), Larson will be teaching residents within these organizations how to monitor the environment for odours, when and how to take odour samples and where to send the samples for scientific analysis.
Global Community Monitor is an international human rights, not for profit organization that has worked with communities in 20 countries including Canada. The Bucket Brigade works with communities to record pollution incidents systematically and effectively by taking samples while the pollution is in progress.
“Odour is a problem for our community,” said PACHA president Dave Fuller in a press release. “It hinders economic development, we hear constantly of people leaving Prince George because it stinks’ and there are possible health effects. We want to do odour testing to find out who is responsible for these odours and what is really in them.”
“Everyone is concerned about small particulates and know about the serious diseases they cause in lungs, hearts and brains,” said Dr. Marie Hay, a coalition representative. “However they don’t really understand or know about the adverse health consequences of the volatile organic compounds and the sulfur bound chemicals that we are breathing in when it stinks. The families of the Miller Addition are suffering. They cannot wait for years to resolve the untenable situation of foul air. Currently local pulp mills stand to inherit up to $180 million in tax monies this year from a black liquor subsidy.’ They absolutely need to start by first using this money to clean up their pollution.”
PACHA and MACC do not receive funds from government or industry and need help in raising the necessary money to do the tests. Donations are gratefully being accepted now on their website at www.pachapg.ca